Two new genera and five new species of the feather mite subfamily Proctophyllodinae (Astigmata : Proctophyllodidae) from suboscine birds in Brazil

Two new genera and five new species of feather mites of the family Proctophyllodidae are described from passerine birds from Brazil: Tyranniphyllodes pitangi gen. n., sp. n. from Pitangus sulphuratus (Tyrannidae); Atrichophyllodes delalandi gen. n., sp. n. from Corythopis delalandi (Tyrannidae); A. mentalis gen. n., sp. n. from Dysithamnus mentalis (Thamnophilidae); Anisophyllodes candango sp. n. from Elaenia chiriquensis (Tyrannidae); and Platyacarus sittasomi sp. n. from Sittasomus griseicapillus (Dendrocolaptidae). The discovery of these taxa might give data for a better understanding of the evolution of the family Proctophyllodidae in general and the dispersion of these mites on passerines in South America in paricular.

Determination of the probable ontogenic time of action of lethal factors on the second chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster derived from a natural population

From the study of the genetic load of second chromosome factors in a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster, 15 lethal-bearing strains were recovered and maintained in the laboratory balanced against Ins (2L + 2R), Cy, L-4. For each lethal factor, the probable time of action during development was determined by the appearance of a sharp reduction, at any given stage, in the frequency of individuals compared to that expected in the absence of the lethal factor. Carried out in this way, the analysis suggested that seven were embryonic lethals, two larval lethals and three pupal lethals. Additionally, three gave no evidence of affecting any of the above-mentioned stages; these are interpreted as gametic lethals.

CRANIOMETRIC VARIATION AND SUBSPECIFIC DIFFERENTIATION IN THRICHOMYS APEREOIDES IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL (RODENTIA, ECHIMYIDAE)

Thrichomys apereoides is an echimyid rodent which ranges in distribution from northeastern and central Brazil into Paraguay. Five subspecies are recognized, although each form is not well characterized and diagnosis is based primarily in pelage color variation. In this study we employed procedures from multivariate statistics to assess the systematic status of subspecies described from northeastern Brazil. The results of the craniometric analysis cannot be reconciled with the subspecies currently recognized for northeastern Brazil. Populations assigned to T. a. laurentius and T. a. inermis form a continuum of variation in cranial size, although they differ in cranial shape from a population from the locality of Bodoco in the state of Pernambuco. The implications of these findings for the systematics of T. apereoides are discussed.

Chemical profile of Eriocaulon ligulatum (Vell.) LB Smith (Eriocaulaceae)

Two new and six known flavonoids and two known naphthopyranones have been isolated by chromatographic methods and spectrometrically identified in capitulae and scapes of Eriocaulon ligulatum (Vell.) L.B. Smith (Eriocaulaceac). The presence of naphthopyranones suggests approximation between Eriocaulon and Paepalanthus genus. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The taxonomy and morphological and anatomical differentiation of populations of Leiothrix crassifolia (Eriocaulaceae)

The morphological and anatomical leaf and scape differentiation of Leiothrix crassifolia is analysed and classified into seven types (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, Vn). The species has a relatively wide distribution in the campo rupestre of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Variation in the isolated populations on different mountain ranges is complex, does not follow a clear geographical pattern, and defies taxonomic classification. L. nubigena and L. obtusifolia are included in L. crassifolia.

Toward a global description of the nucleus-nucleus interaction

Extensive systematizations of theoretical and experimental nuclear densities and of optical potential strengths extracted from heavy-ion elastic scattering data analyses at low and intermediate energies are presented. The energy dependence of the nuclear potential is accounted for within a model based on the nonlocal nature of the interaction. The systematics indicates that the heavy-ion nuclear potential can be described in a simple global way through a double-folding shape, which basically depends only on the density of nucleons of the partners in the collision. The possibility of extracting information about the nucleon-nucleon interaction from the heavy-ion potential is investigated.

Molecular phylogeny of the green lacewings (Neuroptera : Chrysopidae)

The first quantitative analysis of phylogenetic relationships of green lacewings (Chrysopidae) is presented based on DNA sequence data. A single nuclear and two mitochondrial genes are used in the analysis: carbomoylphosphate synthase (CPS) domain of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase-aspartate transcarbamoylase-dihydroorotase (CAD) (i.e. rudimentary locus), large subunit ribosomal gene (16S) and cytochrome oxidase I (COI). This study represents the first use of the CAD gene to investigate phylogenetic relationships of the lacewings. DNA sequences for 33 chrysopid species from 18 genera, representing all subfamilies and tribes, were compared with outgroups sampled from families Hemerobiidae, Osmylidae and Polystoechotidae. Parsimony analyses of the combined data set recovered all of the previously established subfamilial and tribal groups as monophyletic clades (although relatively weakly supported) except Apochrysinae sensu lato. The enigmatic Nothancyla verreauxi Navas has historically been difficult to place in a subfamily group based on morphological characteristics; molecular data presented herein do not adequately resolve this problem.

A comparative analysis of the chemical nature of defensive secretions of Gonyleptidae (Arachnida : Opiliones : Laniatores)

The arachnids of the order Opiliones (harvestmen) produce substances used in defense. In the present paper, we analyzed 22 species of Gonyleptidae to explore the use of defensive substances in taxonomy and evolutionary biology. Thirty-seven different compounds were detected, 18 of which were preliminarily identified. These compounds were mapped onto a phylogenetic tree showing the relationships within the Gonyleptidae. Data from Cosmetidae were used as an outgroup. Five ketones and six alkyl phenols were reported for the first time in harvestmen. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anatomy of Brazilian Eriocaulaceae: correlation with taxonomy and habitat using multivariate analyses

In this study we present a survey on vegetative anatomy in species of Actinocephalus, Blastocaulon, Eriocaulon, Leiothrix, Paepalanthus, Philodice, Syngonanthus, and Tonina (Eriocaulaceae). Multivariate analyses were used to correlate anatomical characters to taxa and the habitats where the species occur. Root and stem anatomical characters seem to be more affected by environmental factors where these species occur, and seem of little value for delimiting major taxonomic groups within the family. Other characters in the leaves, such as epidermis with thickened wall cells, compartmented substomatal chambers, mesophyll with hypodermis, compact chlorenchyma, collenchymatous bundle sheath extensions, and numerous vascular bundles, were shown to be important for defining species clusters in Leiothrix, Syngonanthus, and Paepalanthus subg. Platycaulon. Similarly, loosely aggregated chlorenchyma caused Blastocaulon, Eriocaulon, Philodice, Syngonanthus sect. Carpocephalus, S. sect. Syngonanthus, and Tonina, genera from humid environments, to cluster. Scape characters appear to be more informative in discriminating groups. This situation probably reflects lower selection pressures determining anatomical characters of this organ.

6-methoxyquercetin-3-0-(6-E-feruloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside from Paepalanthus polyanthus (Eriocaulaceae)

The new 6-methoxyquercetin-3-O-(6-E-feruloyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) was isolated from the aerial parts of Paepalanthus polyanthus and characterized by spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as electrospray mass spectrometry. In addition four known flavonoids of taxonomic relevance were isolated and identified by comparison to literature data. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.